Orchestra changes more than its name

Symphony Nova is Boston’s first and only training orchestra, and just like it’s namesake, Symphony Nova is lighting up the Boston music scene.

Abigail Wotton

Symphony Nova is Boston’s first and only training orchestra, and just like it’s namesake, Symphony Nova is lighting up the Boston music scene.

Formerly the Neponset Valley Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Nova is more than just a name change, although the new name does reflect more of what Symphony Nova is all about.

“We had always been working as a training orchestra, but we felt our old name was rather limiting,” said Nova conductor, Lawrence Isaacson.

“We decided to move into Boston and make it clear that out mission is a training orchestra,” said Isaacson.

A lot of thought went into brainstorming for a new name, and it was decided that the name should reflect the concert experience.

“The concert experience is emotional, energetic, youthful and a nova is all of those things,” explained Isaacson on how the name was decided upon.

Like its name, Symphony Nova’s musicians also reflect the youth and energy of the concert experience.

The target age for a member is between ages 22-35.

“Being apart of this orchestra is like the internship for the aspiring professional musician,” explained the enthusiastic conductor.

The mission of Symphony Nova is to fully equip musicians for the transition from school to a professional career in music.

Auditions are held yearly for membership, and in the audition the musician has 10 minutes to play a piece of music of their own choice.

Membership to this orchestra means more than just playing in a few concerts with an orchestra full of other people that one may not know very well.

Besides getting a chance to be apart of the performances as a paid musician, membership of this orchestra includes classes in grant writing, tax preparation and personal finances, as well as mock auditions.

There is also a strong sense of community in the orchestra due to the common goal of advancing their individual careers as well as performing and working together.

Where most orchestras invite professional guest soloists, Symphony Nova differs in that area as well.

“We are actually looking for the up and coming star, so we may have anyone from a 12 year-old violinist to a 30 year-old guest soloist. We are featuring people Boston has not seen before and whose careers are moving forward, and that is exciting,” said Isaacson.

“Being apart of the orchestra has helped me gain more experience and will help me transition to where I hope to be in the future, which is in a professional orchestra,” said Kett Lee, principal cello.

Lee is the only member of the orchestra who has performed in every concert since the beginning, and he has nothing but praises to sing over the professional, organized and respectful environment found within Symphony Nova.

“Compared to other orchestras, this one feels very special and energetic, we are really creating something, “said Lee.

Another aspect of the program that Lee is grateful for is his conductor, Lawrence Isaacson.

“He has such an impressive background as a musician, and he has already done it all in the ‘real world of music,’ so I trust his opinion,” explained Lee, when talking about how much he values having a conductor that can offer so much real world advice about being a professional musician.

Symphony Nova will be performing four concerts this coming year starting on Friday, Sept. 28. Each pair weekend concert will include one performance in the city at Old South Church in Boston on Friday night, and a performance on Sunday in the Neponset Valley.

Don’t miss your chance to see Symphony Nova live!

To learn more, check out the concert schedule and purchase tickets visit http://www.symphonynova.org/concerts.html.